HR1379

LRB094 21109 MST 59437 r






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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The members of the House of Representatives of the 
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State of Illinois are pleased to recognize the dedication of 
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the restoration of the Prairie Mills Windmill and the 20th 
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anniversary of the Golden Historical Society; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Construction of the Prairie Mills Windmill began 
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in August 1872, under the direction of Henrich R. Emminga, a 
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German immigrant who settled in the region in the 1850's, with 
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completion of the first story in September 1872; the upper 
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stories and tower section were completed in April 1873; two 
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sets of lava burr stones were ready for use in September 1873, 
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with the grinding of mill foods beginning shortly thereafter; 
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the mill was used in the manufacture of buckwheat, flour, rye 
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and graham flour, cornmeal, and ordinary mill feeds; and

 
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    WHEREAS, In the fall of 1878, H.H. Emminga bought his 
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father's interest in the mill and remained the sole owner until 
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his death on December 9, 1915; the mill was then operated as 
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the Golden Elevator and Mill Company; in March 1922 the mill 
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was taken over by the Consolidated Cereal Company; in March 
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1923, F.B. Franzen became the sole owner; and

 
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    WHEREAS, On February 9, 1924, a strong wind tore off two of 
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the four sails; operations were later discontinued altogether; 
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the mill would eventually open over the years in various 
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incarnations; it stood vacant until March 1956 when Gerald and 
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Leota Brady purchased the mill from John Schuster and operated 
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a tavern in the lower story; after 11 years, Leota Kindhart 
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sold the mill to John Leenerts who operated it as a supper 
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club; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The mill was sold to Eldon Golden in 1976; in 
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1986, upon hearing that the mill might be sold to another 
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community, a corporation was formed to purchase the windmill 
 


 






HR1379
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LRB094 21109 MST 59437 r




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property, thus beginning the Golden Historical Society; the 
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Golden Historical Society would go on to restore the Prairie 
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Mills Windmill and preserve prairie history; therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
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we recognize the dedication of the restoration of the Prairie 
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Mills Windmill and the 20th anniversary of the Golden 
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Historical Society; and be it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to
the Golden Historical Society as an expression of 
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our esteem.